“But—”
“Do it. She’ll never trust us if she thinks she’s a prisoner.”
Devon pulled a keychain out of her pocket and found the appropriate key. “You are our guest, not our prisoner.” She opened the bars and stepped aside.
“You’re free to leave whenever you like,” Jake reinforced, “but we hope you’ll let us help you.”
After a long, tense minute, the tigress sighed. I have nowhere else to go.
Then relax and let us help you. Is there anything you need?
Serra ignored the question and looked at Heather. What is she?
A friend. Her name is Heather. She will not hurt you.
Obviously unconvinced, Serra returned to her corner and curled up. At least she faced them this time.
Are you able to return to your human shape or do you require assistance?
The keepers call forth my other self. I have nothing to do with it.
He nodded. That’s what he’d feared. When one of the backers’ formulas had trapped Dhane in his animal form, it had taken a second formula to release him.
Serra cocked her head, apparently intrigued by the question. Are you able to transform without the keepers’ help?
There are no keepers here and yes, we control when we shift. Jake waited for her to react to the fact, but she said nothing more and he felt no emotion flow across their link. Either she didn’t believe him or she refused to even consider the possibility. May I tell the others what you told me?
If you like. She sounded bored and her eyelids drifted shut.
He wasn’t fooled by her nonchalance. Her heartbeat was still racing.
Pushing to his feet, he dusted off his jeans. “This is Serra and I suspect she escaped from one of the backers’ research facilities.”
* * * * *
Zophiel paused on the balcony of her borrowed apartment and savored the sweet aches and stiffness a night with Nate had left behind. Feeding gradually enough so he didn’t feel the drain had been seriously challenging, especially while he commanded her body with surprising skill. Despite her provocation, he hadn’t called his guards. However, he’d used his belt on her bare behind, which had been almost as thrilling. Next time she’d make sure—next time?
The thought sent lust crashing over her but logic immediately banked the fire. She’d siphoned more than energy out of Nate during their sexathon. She’d learned that Milliner had contacted Nate and offered to trade Dhane for Heather. Which meant Nate wasn’t a traitor, just a detestable father. She really should wait and see how it all played out before she even considered seeing Nate again, but last night had been incredibly entertaining.
Distracted by the conflict, she slid open the door and stepped into the apartment.
“You selfish bitch! I’ve been trapped here for hours, without water or food, or even a goddamn toilet!”
Sean’s furious tirade made Zophiel smile. She hadn’t intentionally tortured her pet. His needs had simply slipped her mind. Reinforcing the compulsion that kept him in the bedroom had been a safety precaution. She hadn’t planned on being gone all night. Still, why in the world did the human think she’d be moved by a temper tantrum?
She strolled into the bedroom and looked around. “You’ve been busy.” He’d trashed the place, smashed every breakable object within reach and torn the pictures off the walls. The television was on the floor and the small table she’d been using as a desk was upturned and broken.
“Kill me or let me go.” Hopelessness replaced his anger, making him look even more pathetic. “I cannot go on like this.”
She’d been thinking the same thing all morning. Sean had become bothersome, besides it was past time for her to find a new hideout. “As you wish.” Guiding her destructive thought with a sharp hand gesture, she broke his neck and watched unmoved as he collapsed on the bed. The mess he’d made would have the investigators debating the true nature of the crime. Had a murderer tried to cover his tracks by ransacking the room or had the victim interrupted a violent burglar? She didn’t care what the humans concluded as long as nothing connected her with the crime.
A focused cleansing pulse dissolved any trace evidence she might have left behind. It had taken centuries to perfect the technique but the skill became more important as DNA testing advanced. Satisfied that the apartment was clear, she cloaked herself in an invisibility shield and returned to the balcony. She needed to find a new location, but it was even more important that she contact Tias. It would be interesting to find out if Tias knew Milliner was making deals with Nate Fitzroy.
For decades the backers had operated separately, each overseeing a specific element of the program on a different continent. Roberto ran Europe, Tias focused on Asia and Milliner governed North America. But as the program advanced and more direct interaction between the departments became necessary, the logistics of a multinational system proved impractical. So the backers began looking for the perfect location to bring everything together under one roof.